Canopy frame



p 24, 11935. H. s. SHELTON 2,015,321

CANOPY FRAME Filed April 19, 1935 54W Hilary/5'. shewon can be folded into a compact bundle so Patented Sept. 24, 1935 UNITED STATES PAT-E NT OFFICE CANOPY FRAME Hilary Shelton, Winston-Salem, N. G.

' Application April19, 1935, Serial No. 17,328

' 5Claims. (01.135-4) This invention relates to a frame for supporting small tents and canopies, one of theobjects being to provide a structure of this character which is light but durable and, when not in use, as to facilitate transportation. 7

A further object is to provide a frame which can be set up quickly and, when properly assembled will provide a rigid support for the canopy cover and walls.

A still further object is to combinein the frame construction a new and novel arrangement of ropes or the like which will be drawn taut by the assembly of the frame and constitute both rein- Y iorcements and supports.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of 'construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fullydescribed and pointed out in the Figure 3 is a perspective view of one ofthe corner fixtures and a portion of a strut to be used therewith.

Figure 4 is a view showing in side elevation one corner portion of the marginal brace.

Figure 5 is a plan View thereof.

Figure 6 is a plan view of a portion of the top brace. V

Figure 7 is a plan, view of the screw carrying plate of the frame.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference, l designates a central plate or casting having diverging pairs of ears 2 made integral therewith. A central opening 3 is also provided in this plate.

Pivotally connected to each pair of ears is the inner member 4 of a strut the outer member of which consists of a length of pipe 5. A dowel 6 is extended from the endof each inner member 4 and is so proportioned as to project into the outer member 5 of the strut whereby the two members 4 and 5 will beheld in alinement but detachable from each other. V

The outer end of each strut member 5 is adapted to slip onto a pin or dowel I extending from the substantially T-shaped fitting 8 which is also formed with a projecting pin 9 extending oppositely to the pin 1 and a pin It extending down- 5 wardly from the pivot. An opening H can be extended through pin 9 for the purpose of receiving a cotter pin l2 or other suitable retaining device. 7

A screw I3 isextended through the opening 3 10 and is in threaded engagement with the plate I. This screw has a crank arm M or any-other suit-- able device at its lower end whereby the screw can be rotated readily; The upper end of the screw is reduced in size as indicated at l5. 15

Posts Hi which can be formed of pipes or can be of any other suitable construction with tubular upper ends, are employed for supporting the struts 45 at a desired height above the surface of the ground, the upper end of each of these 20 posts being adapted to receive detachably one of the pins it].

In connection with the parts thus far de scribed there is used a marginal brace and a top brace. The marginal brace comprises four rings 25 I? connected by ropes l8 or the like so proportioned that when these ropes or other flexible connections are drawn taut, the rings will be regularly spaced apart distances slightly greater than the maximum distances between the fixtures 8. p

The 'top brace comprises a plate is having a small central opening 20 and secured to this plate are equally spaced ropes 2| or other suitable flex- 7 ible devices to the outer ends of which are secured rings 22;

In assembling the frame thus far described the sections 4 and 5-areas'semb1ed and the fixtures 8 are placed on the outer ends of the sections 5. The struts are slightly folded as shown for example by broken lines in Figure 2 so that their outer ends will thus be restricted towards each other. Thereafter the marginal brace is positioned with its rings I! on the respective pins 9 and after these have been properly located 45 the rings 22 of the top brace are also put on the respective pins 9. The rings are held in place by the pins l2 which are inserted into openings H and with the parts thus arranged the struts will be maintained slightly folded as shown by broken lines in Figure 2 because the connections I8 are proportioned to normally prevent maximum extension of the struts. Following the placing of the top and marginal braces the plate 19 is placed on the reduced. end l5 of 55 screw I3 and said screw is then fed upwardly by rotating it in the plate I. Consequently the flexible connections 2I will be drawn taut.

Continued feeding of the screw I3 will cause the screw to exert a downward thrust on plate I so as to move it from the broken line position shown in Figure 2 substantially 'to the full line position. This will cause the outer ends of the struts to move short distances outwardly so as to push against the rings I1 and draw the connections I8 taut. Thus the one operation of screw I3 will result first in the tightening of the connections 2I and thereafter in the tightening of the connections I8.

Following the operation described the top frame which is thus set up and reinforced or trussed is mounted on the posts I6 which, as before explained, receive the pins I 0. Consequently the top frame will be held at the desired elevation and a top 23 of canvas or other fabric can be placed on the connections 2I while curtains 24 of suitable fabric can then be suspended from the marginal braces I8 by means of snap hooks or the like indicated generally at 25.

It is to be understood that suitable guys or the like'can be used for bracing the tent or canopy after it has been erected.

When it is desired to collapse the structure, cover 23 and the curtain 24 are removed. The pins I0 are lifted from the posts I6 and the screw I3 is then rotated to relieve the tension on the connections 2I. This will allow plate I9 to -be disengaged from the screw and the rings 22 to be slipped off of pins 9. The struts can then be folded together, sections 5 disengaged from sections 4 and from the rings I1, and the entire structure bundled compactly for convenience in storage and transportation.

The tent or canopy which has been described can be used for various purposes and is advantageous because it lacks a center support and permits the use of vertical walls so that the maximum capacity is provided.

What is claimed is:

1. A frame for a tent or canopy including a plate, a screw threaded therein, members hingedly connected to the plate and radiating therefrom, an endless detachable connection between the outer ends of the members, and. a detachable connection between the outer ends of the members and the screw, said screw being rotatable in the plate to place all of the connecting members under tension.

2. In a canopy or tent, a frame including a plate, a screw mounted therein, members hingedly connected to and radiating from said plate, a marginal brace detachably connecting the outer ends of the members, a top brace detachably connecting the outer ends of said members and the screw, and posts detachably connected to the members, said screw being adjustable to place the top brace under tension and exert a thrust upon the members to shift radially therethrough against the brace thereby to place the marginal brace under tension.

3. In a canopy or tent, a frame including a plate, a screw engaging the same and extending therethrough, members hingedly connected to lo and extending radially from the plate, an endless marginal brace detachably connecting the outer ends of the members and constituting means for holding said members normally in partly folded positions, top braces detachably 1;; connecting the screw to the outer ends .of the members, and supporting posts detachably connected to the members, said screw constituting means for thrusting the top braces and the plate in opposite directions respectively thereby to 20 place the top braces under tension and to exert an unfolding action through the plate upon the members to place the marginal brace under ten- S1011.

4. In a canopy or tent, a top frame including a 25 plate, members hingedly connected to and radiating from the plate, each member comprising detachably connected normally alining sections,

a fitting detachably connected to the outer end of each member and having outwardly and down- 30 wardly extending pins, a marginal brace including flexibly connected rings detachably engaging the outwardly extended pins, a top brace including a central element, rings for engaging the outwardly extending pins, connections between 35 said element and rings, posts detachably engaging the downwardly extending pins, said marginal brace constituting means for holding the members normally with their inner or hinged ends above the level of their outer ends, and 40,.

a screw detachably and adjustably connecting the plate and the top brace element for moving them from each other thereby to successively place the top brace under tension and lower the inner ends of the members to place the marginal brace under tension.

5. In a tent or canopy, a plate, struts hingedly connected thereto, a marginal brace detachably engaging the outer ends of the struts for holding the struts partly folded with their inner ends 5 

